Confession time! I used to be, in the truest sense of the word, a scaredy-cat. Everything scared me — and I mean everything. I would lie awake at night absolutely convinced there was a monster in my closet just waiting to open the door and grab me the second I finally closed my eyes. So I simply didn’t close my eyes! Which, as you can imagine, was problematic.
Luckily, Kid Nicole would soon meet the ultimate allies against all things monstrous: Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and, of course, a pup named Scooby-Doo. The more time I spent with the gang, the less I started to fear the monsters in my closet, under my bed, in my bathroom mirror, etc. And before I knew it, something absolutely unexpected happened: I started to love all things scary. Including — and especially — my thoroughly documented love for the Universal Monsters.
That love has only grown over the years, and today, I would call myself a fan of mysteries and scary movies above any other genre. So when I heard that Universal Fan Fest Nights was bringing together two of my favorite franchises — “Scooby-Doo” and my equally-beloved Universal Monsters — I knew I had to get the inside scoop. Read on for all the spooky details on the brand-new in-world experience, Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot!
A Mystery on the Backlot? Jeepers!
As a movie buff (a cinephile, if you will), one of my favorite things about Universal Studios Hollywood is that it’s a working film studio. During the day, The World-Famous Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of that studio. But during Universal Fan Fest Nights, it’ll become your ticket into an immersive, interactive monster mystery.
Here’s the story: A brand-new monster movie is filming on the Universal Backlot, and you’ve been cast as an extra. But when a mysterious villain known as The Phantom Director unleashes the Universal Monsters, the shoot is thrown into chaos. Jinkies! Luckily, Fred, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo (Mystery Inc!) are on-hand to crack the case — but they’ll need your help to solve the clues.
“It’s really the perfect mashup of two iconic Intellectual Properties,” says Stephen Siercks, senior director, entertainment production and executive producer of Universal Fan Fest Nights. “You’ve got the nostalgia of ‘Scooby-Doo’ and the legacy of the Universal Monsters, and it’s just such a perfect match between the two of them.”
Looking for the complete lineup for Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026? Check out the Discover Universal event overview right here.
Your story begins on the tram ride to the set of your monster movie, culminating in a massive takeover moment at the iconic Universal Monsters mural. It’s here that The Phantom Director makes his first appearance and reveals his evil scheme: Determined to bring his “masterpiece” to life, he hijacks the production and summons the Universal Monsters to his side. (Filmmakers, am I right?)
As your tram speeds away, you’ll receive a welcome video call from Mystery Inc. and live my dream of being recruited by the gang to help solve a case. Four clues, four suspects, one masked culprit — and one incredible film set. You’ve arrived in Little Europe, the iconic set where many of the classic Universal Monsters films were shot, including “Frankenstein” (1931), “Dracula” (1931), “The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), and “The Wolf Man” (1941).
“Little Europe is one of the birthplaces of the Universal Monsters,” explains Stephen. “So, there’s a certain level of authenticity that makes this a very special experience for our guests.”
The Little Europe set should be familiar to regular Studio Tour riders; it’s one of the coolest parts of the Backlot to drive through, in my opinion! But when you disembark from the tram — did I mention you get to disembark from the tram?! — you’ll see that it’s been taken to an incredible, fully stylized new level for Universal Fan Fest Nights. As you approach the eerily glowing façades, a production assistant (PA) will hand you your Mystery Manual and send you off on a free-roam investigation.
Zoinks! Monster Moments Galore
I won’t spoil all of the exciting moments you can expect as you attempt to solve the Mystery on the Backlot — it wouldn’t be much of a mystery if I did! But here’s a high-level overview of the interactive adventure that awaits:
As you explore Little Europe, and the Court of Miracles area by foot, Mystery Manual in-hand, you’ll come across four Mystery Markers. Each of these themed mini-HQs is overseen by a member of the gang. It’s up to you to visit all four and help Fred, Velma, Daphne, and Shaggy solve the clues. You’ll do so through a clever blend of character interaction, physical clues, and playful storytelling. (That experience might sound familiar to anyone who visited the Backlot during last year’s Universal Fan Fast Nights!)
“You’re able to follow your favorite character as they have moments throughout the experience, and then layered on top of that, you have this whole idea of solving the mystery,” says Stephen. “It’s really a multi-fold activation and experience that allows our guests to ‘choose [their] own adventure’ and interact with it in the way [they] want to.”
Also unfolding across Little Europe are three Universal Monster Show Moments featuring Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride of Frankenstein, and Wolf Man. These show moments represent the The Phantom Director’s vision for his film, combining practical effects, comedic moments, and exactly the kind of spectacle you’d expect from a crazed director looking to unleash the power of the Universal Monsters.
“Bring your exploration to this experience, and be sure to interact with every character,” Stephen advises. “And be sure to play along with the mystery that’s unfolding around you and really interact, because that’s what makes this offering as unique as it can be for Fan Fest Nights.”
PRO TIP: Keep your eyes peeled as you explore Little Europe! In addition to the all stars that you’ll encounter, you can spot nods and Easter eggs to other members of the Universal Monsters family.
In between solving clues with the gang and beholding the spectacle of the iconic Universal Monsters, you’ll have time to partake in some themed food and beverage offerings — Scooby Snacks, anyone? Plus, you’ll get to browse some monstrous merchandise to commemorate your experience.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a “Scooby-Doo” mystery if it didn’t end with a shocking, climactic whodunit? moment. That’s right: At Universal Fan Fest Nights, you’ll get to live the iconic final few minutes of every “Scooby-Doo” episode in real time. Dreams really do come true!
A ‘Jinkies!’-Worthy Experience
So, in summary: If you’re a fan of “Scooby-Doo” or the Universal Monsters, you’re going to have a blast experiencing Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot. And if, like me, you’re a fan of both franchises … Well, you’re probably going to lose your mind.
For Stephen, creating an authentic experience that exceeds the expectations of both fandoms was a highlight of working on this year’s Universal Fan Fest Nights:
“The opportunity to bring these two brands together has been really exciting,” he shares. “You have the nostalgia of ‘Scooby-Doo’ and the legacy of the Universal Monsters … and the fact that we are on the Backlot, we are able to bring to life this iconic landscape that’s been so important to the history of Universal Studios.”
Fandom? Check. Nostalgia? Check. Legacy? Check. The only thing I need now is for it to be April already! In the meantime, you can secure your attendance to the ultimate mystery mashup by purchasing your ticket to Universal Fan Fest Nights. See you on the Backlot!
Which iconic “Scooby-Doo” or Universal Monsters character are you most excited to encounter at Fan Fest Nights? Let us know in the comments!
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